50 to 1 mix for ALL small engines... 2-stroke and 4-stroke?

[ultrarunner]

Ran into a guy that runs everything with Stihl 50 to 1 mix... which has a fuel stabilizer component.

He said it has eliminated problems with ethanol blends and equipment runs well, plus less fuel cans sitting around.

Uses it in his Honda Generator, Rototiller, Log Splitter, Honda Mower... etc... especially when he is putting it away.

I'm thinking as long as the engines don't have a Catalytic Converter it shouldn't hurt.

Any comments yea or neigh besides the added cost?

 

[4570Man]

I’ve done it in a pinch but I don’t think it’s an ideal solution. Some 2 stroke oil has fuel stabilizer, but if you’re doing this you’re probably using the much cheaper outboard motor oil that doesn’t have stabilizer.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’ve done it in a pinch but I don’t think it’s an ideal solution. Some 2 stroke oil has fuel stabilizer, but if you’re doing this you’re probably using the much cheaper outboard motor oil that doesn’t have stabilizer.

He said he only uses the expensive Stihl brand oil bought in a multi-pack.

 

[4570Man]

I buy redmax brand oil for $10 for a pack of six 2 gallon mix bottles. The Stihl oil I’d guess cost double that. That’s pretty expensive fuel.

 

[ultrarunner]

I buy redmax brand oil for $10 for a pack of six 2 gallon mix bottles. The Stihl oil I’d guess cost double that. That’s pretty expensive fuel.

Not cheap... but way less than paying the equivalent of almost $30 a gallon for ethanol free fuel at the saw shop or Home Depot.

I asked him why he started keeping only the mix on hand... he said he lost an good chainsaw because someone filled the tank with straight gasoline and no 2-stroke mix...

 

[4570Man]

I can still buy ethanol free gas. My Dixie chopper is pretty thirsty thirsty. Fuel is a substantial part of my yard cutting cost. $30 a gallon fuel is not an option and mixed fuel isn’t a practical one. My saw and backpack blower are pretty thirsty as well. I can’t imagine putting $30 a gallon fuel through them.

 

[EddieWalker]

With all the issues in modern gasoline, I wouldn't risk it. I've mixed up my Stihl fuel with my Echo fuel and knew it right away by how bad it ran. If you don't need oil in it to run it, there isn't any way that I would put it in there!!!

 

[goeduck]

Not cheap... but way less than paying the equivalent of almost $30 a gallon for ethanol free fuel at the saw shop or Home Depot.
...

Ethanol free regular is only 20 cents more a gallon here. Premium is maybe 75 cents more. For the relatively little bit of fuel they use, well worth it.

 

[4570Man]

Ethanol free regular is only 20 cents more a gallon here. Premium is maybe 75 cents or a buck more

That’s about the average here. Maybe a little more difference currently. Still way cheaper than the cost to mix it or canned fuel. I don’t understand why the canned fuel is that expensive. They sell canned food for a couple of dollars or less so the cans are cheap.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ethanol free regular is only 20 cents more a gallon here. Premium is maybe 75 cents more. For the relatively little bit of fuel they use, well worth it.

The only place I have been able to drive up and buy it is in Washington State...

There is nothing in the SF Bay Area Metro... really nothing any regular person can get... maybe a pilot at the airport or I can buy 55 gallon drums of race fuel

 

[ultrarunner]

$6 a quart give or take plus tax... last time I got serious it worked out to just under $28 a gallon.

I keep a quart in my service truck should I need my saw on the go...

 

[grm61]

He said he only uses the expensive Stihl brand oil bought in a multi-pack.

I run ethanol free gas in all my lawn garden equipment...ethanol free premium localy for about .50 more per gallon the ethanol premium.

I run that in the pressure washer and riding mower with stabil.

As a plug for the expensive stihl oil I have a FS90 4mix weed wacker, that was my original reason for using the stihl oil.

I am embarrassed to say that three years ago I mixed up 5 gallons of ethanol free premium. with the 50/1 stihl oil. My 4mix weed wacker, stihl chainsaws and blower, still fire right up like you used them yesterday.
I do shake the can up:drink:

Good chit, but have not felt the need to use it in stuff that does not need it.

 

[Wagtail]

2-stroke engines get the 50:1 mix (actually, I run 40:1) only. 4-stroke engines get regular petrol. Different cans and markings.

WOW (speaking of petrol prices)! :shocked: I just did a quick conversion and, here in Tassie, I'm paying A$5.52 for just over a US gallon of non-ethanol 91 octane (regular) petrol. [A$1.38 per litre]

The 'greenie' stuff is only A$0.01 cheaper = not worth it.

 

[ultrarunner]

I just filled up with 91 ethanol blend and paid $3.69 a gallon..

California recently boosted gas and diesel fuel taxes.

 

[RalphVa]

I've done it in the past. Makes a lot of sense to me, also using just one oil/gas ratio, too. Many 4 stroke engines would use about this much crankcase oil (for the same amount of gas), which isn't ashless like the 2 stroke oil.

Around here, I can get methanol free gas (87 octane) for a little bit more than premium. I don't fuss over it though. Still use 10% methanol fuel when it isn't convenient to get the methanol free stuff. Cannot use 2 stroke equipment any more with a pacemaker in my chest. Replaced those with 20-40v battery equipment.

Ralph

 

[ultrarunner]

Several threads on the benefits of Seafoam and Stabil for minimizing fuel issues... both of which are added to fuel.

I probably go through no more than 20 gallons of two-stroke excluding the outboard which has not been in the water since the two stroke ban... but this is a topic for another discussion.

I also keep fuel in the Service Truck... so it is more exposed to temp swings and I have had issues of it going bad...

Honest... never had any carb problems for decades but do now... both 2 and 4 stroke engines... so far zero fuel injection issues.

Never realized there is a connection with pacemakers tied to two stroke equipment... is it only for hand held or does it apply to things like outboards?

 

[RalphVa]

Several threads on the benefits of Seafoam and Stabil for minimizing fuel issues... both of which are added to fuel.

I probably go through no more than 20 gallons of two-stroke excluding the outboard which has not been in the water since the two stroke ban... but this is a topic for another discussion.

I also keep fuel in the Service Truck... so it is more exposed to temp swings and I have had issues of it going bad...

Honest... never had any carb problems for decades but do now... both 2 and 4 stroke engines... so far zero fuel injection issues.

Never realized there is a connection with pacemakers tied to two stroke equipment... is it only for hand held or does it apply to things like outboards?

Just not supposed to get close to high voltage ignition. Not supposed to lean over a gas engine when it's running. It's not 2 stroke issue. I'd be leary of outboards if sitting very close to the engine. Be okay if you sat away from it and used a steering wheel.

When I only used regular fuel, I fixed many carb issues with Sea Foam. Haven't had to tear down a carb in eons.

Ralph

 

[JerryK]

I buy 4 cans at Walmart every couple years [ their 40/50:1 is usually less than $5/qt ]. I keep them for backup emergency fuel in case I need to wack up a tree when my normal fuel mixed can is empty. Every few years I use the current cans up, and buy another few to stock away. I have all my 2 cycle tuned up to run at 40:1, and run even the new stuff at that ratio.

 

[Doofy]

Heck, I'm still working on stash from the 70s. I use a little in everything. I figure if I'm not fouling spark plugs or smoking like a fiend, it's all good!

 

[Michael Aos]

4-cycle Trufuel runs around $19.20+tax per gallon from Lowe's.